Drainage cohtboi fob washing machines



Sept. 17, 1929:

H. c. BURBRIDGE I 1,728,659

DRAINAGE GONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 20, 1926 IN V EN TOR.

H CBu/rbrdge I BY mm;

A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1929 HARRY C. BUR/BRIDGE, OF FRESNO,CALIFORNIA DRAINAGE CONTROL FOR WASHING MACHINES Application filedOctober 20, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines of the typeprovided with a centrifugal drier. In such machines centrifugal motionis employed to throw the washing water out of the clothes and the lattermay then be sprayed with fresh water from the inside for rinsingpurposes. As the machines are now constructed, however, this fresh waterruns back into the washing water and dilutes it, which reduces theefiiciency and increases the cost of the washing operations.

The principal object of my invention is therefore to provide a drainagecontrol structure for such machines so arranged that as the rinsingwater is thrown out of the clothes basket by the rotation of the latter,it is caught and discharged from the tub without mingling with thewashing water therein.

Any necessary amount of rinsing water may therefore be used withoutaffecting the washing water. On the other hand when the washing waterisbeing rung from the clothes 5 and is running down the sides of the tub,such water may be either returned to the Washing water in the tub ordischarged from the latter without mingling with such washing water, asmay be desired.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

The figure on the drawing is a fragmentary sectional elevation of acentrifugal drier type washing machine showing my improved drain controlmeans applied thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the numeral 1 denotes the outer container or tub of themachine, having an inner container or basket 2 to receive the clothes 3to be washed. The basket is turnably mounted in the tub and is supportedon a shaft 4 which projects through the bottom of the tub and is drivenSerial No. 142,851.

in a manner common to such machines, and Which forms no part of myinvention.

The basket is arranged to be lowered so as to be partially submerged inthe washing water 5 in the tub, or to be raised so as to be clear ofsuch water to the position shown in the drawing. This feature also iscommon practice and I merely make use of the same in. carrying out myinvention.

Projecting continuously around the interior of the container above thewater level is a trough 6, preferably arranged to be somewhat higher onone side of the container than on the other. The side of the basket isprovided with perforations 7 as usual, the lower row of perforationsbeing above the inner rim of the trough when the basket is in its raisedposition.

Mounted on the side of the container is a two-way valve of suitablecharacter comprising for instance a casing 8 having a turnable plug 9therein provided with an opening 10 therethrough. The plug is turned todifferent positions by a suitable handle member 11. The casing 8 hasvertically spaced pas sages l2 and 13 leading from the periphery of theplug to the lowest point of the trough 6 and to the container 1 belowthe trough respectively. The casing also has a spout 14 leadingtherefrom in circumferentially offset relation to the passages 12 and18. The opening 1.0 in the plug is so arranged that upon turning thehandle communication may be established between the passages 12 and 13through the plug or between the passage 12 and the spout 14 through theplug. The spout may be positioned to discharge directly into astationary tub or into a drain, or into a reservoir sometimes providedinconnection with washing machines.

In operation after the clothes have been washed and it is desired torinse the same, the basket is raised from the washing water and, whilebeing rapidly rotated, fresh water is applied to the clothes in thebasket in the usual manner. The valve is set so that the passage 12 isin communication with the spout The revolving motion of the basketcauses all the water from the clothes therein to be thrown centrifugallythrough the perforations and against the sides of the container, fromwhich said water will run into the trough and then out through thespout, as will be evident. The valve passages are of sufficient size sothat they provide ample capacity to carry off all the water from thetrough as itaccumulates, so that there is no chance of the latteroverflowing. The washing water therefore remains undiluted and retainsits original heat.

' If when wringing the washing water from the clothes it isdesired thatsuch water shall bereturned to the main body of water in the container,the valve is turned so that the passages 12 and 1:3 communicate. Thewater draining into the trough will therefore again pass into thecontainer below the trough instead of out through the spout.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinventionas set forth herein. While thisspecification sets forth indetail the present and preferred construction of the device, still inpractice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do notform a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by theappended claims. I Havingfthus described my invention what 39 I claimas'new and useful and desire to Secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. The combination with a foraminous centrifugally driven. clothesbasket arranged within a container, ofa drainage control 05 meanstherefor comprising a trough around the inside of the container belowthe perforations in the basket and above the bottom of the container,the container having an outlet opening from the trough and another 40from below the trough, a separate outlet member outside the container,and means to allow the two outlets from the container to be put intocommunication with each other or with the separate outlet member.

2. The combination with a foraminous centrifugally driven clothes basketarranged within a container, of a drainage control means thereforcomprising a trough around the inside of the container below theperforations inthe basket and above the bottom of the container, thecontainer having an outlet opening from the trough and another frombelowthe trough, a valve casing, a turnable plug therein having apassage therethrough, the casing having separated passages connectedwith the trough and container outlet openings, a separate outletpassageway from the casing, the plug passageway being ar ranged so thatupon turning the plug communication will be established either betweenthe trough and container outlets or between the trough outlet and thecasing outlet.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY C. BURBRIDGE.

